ringing in the new year

I don’t know about you, but I’m really looking forward to 2011. I’ve got some pretty major life changes happening, I’ve made some great goals for myself that I’m excited about accomplishing and I just have a really good feeling about this new year!

I really wanted to share a champagne recipe with you all but when I got home last night we didn’t have any! We received so many bottles of champagne after our engagement that I thought we definitely had some but alas, no such luck. So I had a little wine to give you all a virtual cheers!

I also ate some pickled herring to bring good luck! (This is the first time I’ve really kind of liked it but I was a little nervous…) Do you eat special foods on New Years Eve or Day to bring good luck?

Enjoy your New Years Eve festivities, what are your plans? We are expecting a really bad snow storm so I secretly (or not so secretly) hope we get snowed in, otherwise we’ll be heading to a friend’s party!

Happy New Year! I love reading about all the special foods, but never make any on my own. We usually reserve NYE for special snacks – homemade buffalo wings and baked Brie this year! We usually don’t do parties, but we have spent NYE in Vegas before, about 2 years ago. Lots of fun! Really our favorite thing to do is stay in, raid the liquor cabinet and overdose on junk food.

Yes they are!
Down South: Eating black-eyed peas on New Years Day is thought to bring prosperity for the year to come. They are often served along with pork, onions and hot sauce. Usually greens (collard, turnip or mustard) are part of the meal as well, which symbolize money and wealth. The practice of eating the peas was actually a Jewish tradition dating back to 500 C.E. and was adopted by non-Jews around the time of the Civil War. source

Oh my goodness…pickled herring brings back memories! My dad used to pack herring sandwiches for lunch several times/week…when I’d come into the kitchen in the morning, the entire room smelled like fish! Not a pleasant way to wake up! (Although, I learned to like the taste!)

I don’t typically eat any special foods…but I like the Spanish tradition of popping 12 grapes in your mouth at midnight!

Hi, I’m Emily

I love simple, delicious food that happens to be healthy. And that's what I share here! My husband and I live in Los Angeles (but are both from the Midwest) and I work at an anti-hunger nonprofit. Read More…